Celebrating the Early American Industries Association

John Verrill, 5/2/25

Photo courtesy Paul Van Pernis

Spring is a wonderful time of renewal for me as I tend to suffer from a bit of Seasonal Affective Disorder during the winter months. Bright sunshine and warm air are rejuvenating as are the blooming flowers and leafing out of the trees. At EAIA it is also our busy season of planning for the Annual Conference and assorted other activities.

For a relatively small organization of about 2,000 members the Early American Industries Association offers a good deal to pique one’s interests. For the staff and board the annual conference is a vital way to offer opportunities to learn about our industrial past through museum and historic site visits, programs and tours.  This year our theme is “Tools & Trades Along the Erie Canal.”  Our conference is in Rochester, NY, and although it is right upon us (May 28-31) we can squeeze you in, go to our website and see more details and the registration form. https://www.eaia.us/ But the annual conference is not the only game in town. We also have regional meetings. Several are in the planning stages and one is planned for July 12 at the Carousel Museum in Bristol, CT. That meeting will include a guided tour of the museum, the restoration workshop, working full-sized carousels and miniature carousels; a special bonus is the firefighting apparatus museum on the grounds  Another is planned for late summer at the Catoctin Furnace near Emmitsburg, MD, we are awaiting details from the planner.

We are most proud of our flagship publication The Chronicle and all of the content that covers so many varied interests. We are always seeking out contributors, and our editor stands ready to help even those with a limited ability to write an article, you don’t have to be a professional writer as you may wish to share something that is of great interest and for which you have some knowledge. Sometimes a really interesting one page article can capture wide spread attention so don’t be shy-share what you know with our members! Email our editor, Sarah Thomas with your idea! editor@eaia.us

“But there’s more,” in the words of that great showman and salesman Ron Popeil. Members get our online newsletter Shavings in their inbox 4 times a year, invitations to the regional meetings, annual conference and other events. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram if you follow social media. 

And how about our grants program that offers Research Grants, Conservation Grants, Trades Scholarships and Scholarships to the annual conference. And there’s more! EAIA sponsors the Working Wood in the 18th Century symposium at Colonial Williamsburg each January. We support the initiative “Trades Up,” that encourages young women and men to pick up a trade. EAIA also helps with the Brown International Tool auction and sale each October.

But wait, there’s more! We have a very comprehensive website and blog platform at www.eaia.us If you need information about our organization that is the place to go! Would you like to share something with others in a brief blog? You can do it at OUR website!

    Can you tell that I am excited by EAIA? I hope so, and I hope you will take advantage of all that membership offers. Joining is easy and painless just go to eaia.us/membership to sign up today.